Outlaws looking to leap up in second half

Ken Alexander stretched for this catch in the 4th quarter, but it wasn’t enough to lift his Ottawa Outlaws past the Montreal Royal, who hold a comfortable advantage for the final AUDL playoff spot at the midway point of the pro ultimate season. Photo: Daniel Prinn

By Daniel Prinn

At 2-5, the Ottawa Outlaws face a long climb to chase down the 6-4 Montreal Royal for the east division’s third and final playoff spot as the American Ultimate Disk League franchise hit the midway mark of their season with a 16-13 defeat to Montreal on June 10 at Millennium Field in Orleans.

“The AUDL Eastern Division is now the Wild Wild East,” Outlaws owner Jim Lloyd says by e-mail. “It’s looking like we need to win at least one game against every team in our division to secure a playoff spot.
“The three teams that make the playoffs will have earned it.”

The Outlaws began last year 2-5 as well but finished 7-7, missing the playoffs only by tiebreaker. Ottawa’s roster changed a fair bit from 2016 to 2017 for their third AUDL season.

“They just need time to gel,” Lloyd adds, noting defensive improvements could offer a key remedy. “The more the D-line plays together, the better they’ll get.”

Some of the new faces have begun making an impact for the Outlaws.

“Rookies like Carson Turner and Tyler Sadler are starting to see more playing time,” Lloyd outlines. “Luca (Miglioeretto), Pierre (Lemerle) and David (Hocchalter) also make us better when they are in the lineup.”

After injuries slowed him in 2015 and 2016, Alec Arsenault has emerged as an offensive force for the Outlaws this season, scoring 40 of the team’s 144 goals.

“He is one of the most athletic players in the league and is having a breakout season,” Lloyd indicates. “He’s starting to get the visibility that he deserves.”

Ottawa has home dates on June 18, July 2, 16 and 22 before wrapping up their regular season on the road July 23 at Montreal.